UN General Assembly President Peter Thomson said that he was deeply saddened by the passing of Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro, who died late Friday at the age of 90.

In a statement on Saturday, Thomson said: "I wish to express my sincere condolences to his family, including his brother President Raul Castro, as well as the government and people of Cuba."

"Fidel Castro was one of the iconic leaders of the 20th century, a tireless advocate for equity in the international arena and an inspirational figure for developing countries in particular," Xinhua news agency quoted Thomson as saying.

He added that Castro's dedication to the Cubans' advancement, especially in the fields of education and health, would be long remembered," Thomson added.

Castro had led Cuba for nearly half a century before stepping down in 2006 for health reasons. His brother Raul Castro succeeded him.

His legacy can also be seen in Cuba's universal healthcare and education system, as well as its world-class biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry.

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